Stopped at Suikerbossie

[skipperw]

After being in the very last starting bunch and getting off an hour and ten minutes late, cycling through that hectic wind, my old man and I got to the top of Suikerbossie to be told it was too dangerous to continue and the busses were on their way to collect us. Race over.

I nearly blew a fuse.

Fortunately, we could remove our numbers and continue cycling without Argus being liable...

But of course, the waterpoints were packing up, marshals were heading back and everything seemed rather dissapointing.

 

Anyone else unfortunate enough to experience this?

 

On the bright side, we got a medal for our first Argus experience.

 

[ASTANA]

Ja, my neigbours also started in that group, by the rime they started I was heading back to stellies already. The had a story to tell when they got back, also handed in their numbers and rode on to the much awaited medal. Hats off to you guys for pushing on and even starting in that wind(for first timers ect.)!!

[Danger Dassie]

Ah tough one Stu, but at least your first Argus should be a memorable one and you completed it.

 

High fives ...

[Shebeen]

i think they'll give you an unofficial finish...when you get your yellow number for ten it'll count.

 

well done for completeing the course...no fun starting last, always a good idea to do a seeding race (there are plenty) or even join PPA

[Owen M]

Well done on taking the charge and forcing the organisers to let you go, the wind was hectic down the hills, but very enjoyable, I am sure worth the effort, which will probably bring you back next year... Well Done

[Ratty]

Wind can't get any worse than it was yesterday, so if you completed the course yesterday, every year afterwards will seem easy!

 

I can understand them stopping people.  most people coming through at that time are extremely tired and that downhill was extremely dangerous.

[Pundero]

I felt so good when I finished that race, I didnt think it was possible. well done to those who did, that wind was a test of your limit

[Mountie]

Well done in completing.  Saw a lady that was blown off her bike during one of the downhills just after Suikerbossie.  And this was 10:30.  Another oke was also licking his wounds about 100m before the lady. 

 

With the skill level generally decreasing (please note generally) the later the groups start, I do think that the organizers were getting worried for being sued if they did not do something.

 

Well done again!  It will only get better.

[Max_77]

They stopped me at Suikerbossie as well. I was very unhappy. I averaged just over 17km/h and would have made it, especially with it be downhill. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

It was my first race. Image the horror of giving it your best only to be stopped at the top of the last major hill! I handed in my number and carried on, after standing there for 30min, and went to a friend?s house 2km before the end. They told me there was no point going over the finish as the times wouldn?t count anymore. Now I hear some did get their medals.

 

I understand the reasons for them cancelling the race but damn, I so wanted to finish. They should at least look at my average and acknowledge it or say sorry or something. There hasn?t been I peep from them yet.

 

I will do it again next year but feel cheated

[Iris.01]

Hey! I think I was in the same group as you guys, I remember you two riding together we were the first to get stopped!!! Jeez I was mad as a snake!!  but I said to hell with it and went through and carried on.  and got my medal WHHOOOPPLAA!! 

 

p.s Does anyone know what happened to the cyclists that stayed?? Did they come and collect them ??? How many cyclists were there??

[salimd]

Hi! We must have been close to you cos we were stopped at the bottom of Suikerbossie. they collected our race tags and arranged transport to the finish. We have been promised our medals by post! Hmmm... Had we known that we could actually continue, we certainly would have! btw, did u hear about the 150 odd cyclists who stopped at the top of Suikerbossie and caught hypothermia due to the wind chill factor? 

[scotty]

Plenty of cyclists stopped along the way before Suikerbossie and took the train back to CT centre.

[Merida002]

Hi Shebeen, what is an unofficial finish? this was also my first Argus and I got stopped at Suikerbos. Does that mean we don't get a finishing time even though we did get a medal?

[Kranswurm]

Hi! We must have been close to you cos we were stopped at the bottom of Suikerbossie. they collected our race tags and arranged transport to the finish. We have been promised our medals by post! Hmmm... Had we known that we could actually continue' date=' we certainly would have! btw, did u hear about the 150 odd cyclists who stopped at the top of Suikerbossie and caught hypothermia due to the wind chill factor? [/quote'] ]

That must be a new world record

[Serendipity]

My wife decided to bail at Hout Bay and I arranged for us to be picked up there. I would have been lived if we had carried on to Suikerbossie only to be told we can't continue I would have been slightly upset.

 

 

 

I think riding a bike on the descent from Chappies into Hout Bay with people getting blown all over the road was probably one of the scariest things I have done on a bike.

[scotty]

Hi Shebeen' date=' what is an unofficial finish? this was also my first Argus and I got stopped at Suikerbos. Does that mean we don't get a finishing time even though we did get a medal? [/quote']

 

You get recognised as a finisher with "Participated" behind your name. Happened to those that were prevented in 2003 on ou kaapse weg from finishing due to heat.